8540-8547
PROBATE CODE
SECTION 8540-8547
8540. (a) If the circumstances of the estate require the immediate appointment of a personal representative, the court may appoint a special administrator to exercise any powers that may be appropriate under the circumstances for the preservation of the estate. (b) The appointment may be for a specified term, to perform particular acts, or on any other terms specified in the court order. 8541. (a) Appointment of a special administrator may be made at any time without notice or on such notice to interested persons as the court deems reasonable. (b) In making the appointment, the court shall ordinarily give preference to the person entitled to appointment as personal representative. The court may appoint the public administrator. (c) In the case of an appointment to perform a particular act, request for approval of the act may be included in the petition for appointment, and approval may be made on the same notice and at the same time as the appointment. (d) The court may act, if necessary, to remedy any errors made in the appointment. 8542. (a) The clerk shall issue letters to the special administrator after both of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The special administrator gives any bond that may be required by the court under Section 8480. (2) The special administrator takes the usual oath attached to or endorsed on the letters. (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to the public administrator. (c) The letters of a special administrator appointed to perform a particular act shall include a notation of the particular act the special administrator was appointed to perform. 8543. Subject to subdivision (b) of Section 8481, the court shall direct that no bond be given in either of the following cases: (a) The will waives the requirement of a bond and the person named as executor in the will is appointed special administrator. (b) All beneficiaries waive in writing the requirement of a bond and the written waivers are attached to the petition for appointment of the special administrator. This paragraph does not apply if the will requires a bond. 8544. (a) Except to the extent the order appointing a special administrator prescribes terms, the special administrator has the power to do all of the following without further order of the court: (1) Take possession of all of the real and personal property of the estate of the decedent and preserve it from damage, waste, and injury. (2) Collect all claims, rents, and other income belonging to the estate. (3) Commence and maintain or defend suits and other legal proceedings. (4) Sell perishable property. (b) Except to the extent the order prescribes terms, the special administrator has the power to do all of the following on order of the court: (1) Borrow money, or lease, mortgage, or execute a deed of trust on real property, in the same manner as an administrator. (2) Pay the interest due or all or any part of an obligation secured by a mortgage, lien, or deed of trust on property in the estate, where there is danger that the holder of the security may enforce or foreclose on the obligation and the property exceeds in value the amount of the obligation. This power may be ordered only on petition of the special administrator or any interested person, with any notice that the court deems proper, and shall remain in effect until appointment of a successor personal representative. The order may also direct that interest not yet accrued be paid as it becomes due, and the order shall remain in effect and cover the future interest unless and until for good cause set aside or modified by the court in the same manner as for the original order. (3) Exercise other powers that are conferred by order of the court. (c) Except where the powers, duties, and obligations of a general personal representative are granted under Section 8545, the special administrator is not a proper party to an action on a claim against the decedent. (d) A special administrator appointed to perform a particular act has no duty to take any other action to protect the estate. 8545. (a) Notwithstanding Section 8544, the court may grant a special administrator the same powers, duties, and obligations as a general personal representative where to do so appears proper. Notwithstanding Section 8541, if letters have not previously been issued to a general personal representative, the grant shall be on the same notice required under Section 8003 for appointment of a personal representative, unless the appointment is made at a hearing on a petition for appointment of a general personal representative and the notice of that petition required under Section 8003 has been given. (b) Subject to Section 8543, the court may require as a condition of the grant that the special administrator give any additional bond that the court deems proper. From the time of approving and filing any required additional bond, the special administrator shall have the powers, duties, and obligations of a general personal representative. (c) If a grant is made under this section, the letters shall recite that the special administrator has the powers, duties, and obligations of a general personal representative. 8546. (a) The powers of a special administrator cease on issuance of letters to a general personal representative or as otherwise directed by the court. (b) The special administrator shall promptly deliver to the general personal representative: (1) All property of the estate in the possession of the special administrator. The court may authorize the special administrator to complete a sale or other transaction affecting property in the possession of the special administrator. (2) A list of all creditor claims of which the special administrator has knowledge. The list shall show the name and address of each creditor, the amount of the claim, and what action has been taken with respect to the claim. A copy of the list shall be filed in the court. (c) The special administrator shall account in the same manner as a general personal representative is required to account. If the same person acts as both special administrator and general personal representative, the account of the special administrator may be combined with the first account of the general personal representative. 8547. (a) Subject to the limitations of this section, the court shall fix the compensation of the special administrator and the compensation of the attorney of the special administrator. (b) The compensation of the special administrator shall not be allowed until the close of administration, unless the general personal representative joins in the petition for allowance of the special administrator's compensation or the court in its discretion so allows. Compensation for extraordinary services of a special administrator may be allowed on settlement of the final account of the special administrator. The total compensation paid to the special administrator and general personal representative shall not, together, exceed the sums provided in Part 7 (commencing with Section 10800) for compensation for the ordinary and extraordinary services of a personal representative. If the same person does not act as both special administrator and general personal representative, the compensation shall be divided in such proportions as the court determines to be just or as may be agreed to by the special administrator and general personal representative. (c) The total compensation paid to the attorneys both of the special administrator and the general personal representative shall not, together, exceed the sums provided in Part 7 (commencing with Section 10800) as compensation for the ordinary and extraordinary services of attorneys for personal representatives. When the same attorney does not act for both the special administrator and general personal representative, the compensation shall be divided between the attorneys in such proportions as the court determines to be just or as agreed to by the attorneys. (d) Compensation of an attorney for extraordinary services to a special administrator may be awarded in the same manner and subject to the same standards as for extraordinary services to a general personal representative, except that the award of compensation to the attorney may be made on settlement of the final account of the special administrator.